Assam Government reclaims land for development: Bharatiya Janata Party

Staff reporter

Guwahati: The Assam Government, under Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, has intensified efforts to reclaim illegally encroached land and transform it into assets for cultural, ecological, and economic development. With a strong political will, the administration has already recovered approximately 1.2 lakh bighas of government land from 25,000 encroachers over the past four years.

In a statement by state BJP, a total of 8 lakh bighas remain under unauthorized occupation across the state. The BJP-led government has made significant strides, especially in preserving historically and culturally significant sites like the Batadrava Satra, the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardev. Around 1,230 bighas of land in and around the Xatra have been reclaimed, with an Rs 186 crore cultural complex being developed to showcase Assam’s spiritual and cultural heritage.

Similarly, in Gorukhuti, Sipajhar, 7,800 bighas of encroached land were cleared in 2021 and converted into a multi-crop agricultural project. Nearly 300 youths have been engaged as ‘Krishi Yodhas’, with the project generating Rs 4.85 crore in revenue in 2024–25.

In the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, eviction drives have led to an ecological resurgence, with the return of species like rhinos, tigers, and elephants. A strategic wildlife corridor now connects Laokhowa–Burhachapori to Kaziranga and Orang National Parks, strengthening biodiversity conservation.

Furthermore, in Dhubri's Chapar region, 4,000 bighas have been allocated for a thermal power project by the APDCL, expected to create over 20,000 direct jobs and numerous indirect livelihood opportunities.

However, these actions have sparked serious demographic concerns. Eviction-affected communities—mainly Bengali-speaking Muslims—have reportedly migrated 200–300 km away from their original homes, often settling in Hindu or Assamese Muslim-dominated regions. Critics allege this may be part of a deliberate plan to alter local demographics and politically marginalize indigenous populations.

Instances of people from South Salmara, Mankachar, and Barpeta allegedly settling in areas like North Lakhimpur, Sarupathar, and Golaghat have fueled claims of political infiltration.  While the government presents these drives as steps toward development and cultural revival, opposition voices warn of an emerging socio-political imbalance with long-term consequences.

Also Read: AIUDF slams BJP-led Assam Government over ‘targeted’ evictions of Muslim communities

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